Hot lunch..a soulful meal with crunchy side dish
@arunima25 (85691)
Bangalore, India
January 8, 2024 3:58am CST
Good afternoon from this side of the planet 
. It's gloomy and cloudy here with no signs of the sun or rain either. The temperature has dropped a bit today, but it's pleasant and tolerable. A light shawl and socks in my feet are good enough to keep me comfortable.
It's the second week of the new year. Time really flies. Monday has started well and things went smoothly at work. I came back from work at 12:30. I finished cooking lunch for myself. My husband has a client meeting and lunch outside. My daughter packed breakfast for lunch. It was her favourite paneer paratha ( stuffing of spicy paneer). I took a light breakfast of toast and banana before going to work. My daughters are not big fan of khichdi ( a very common Indian dish), but husband and I find that as our soul food. So, today I had khichdi for lunch. It's a one pot meal with rice, lentils and veggies cooked together and then seasoned with mustard seeds, cumin seeds and green chillies in hot ghee ( clarified butter). It is easy and quick to cook. And I love it more in this season with so many seasonal veggies available to add flavour and colour to the dish 
. I added green peas, carrot, beans, onion, tomato and cauliflower today to khichdi .I had it with curd and mango pickle as side dish. And to add more taste to it, I fried these crunchy papad that you see in the picture. These are sago papad( made from tapioca seeds). My mom made them at home. I fried few of them to enjoy as a crunchy side dish
.
I shared my lunch with my household help. She too enjoyed it.
I have extra left to be enough for husband and myself in the dinner. My daughter won't mind another meal of paneer paratha. She is crazy about that 
. I will make omelette for her if she wants.
So, I am done cooking for the rest of the day.. I worked on another site and completed a survey after lunch.
Now, it would be time for my remedial sessions in forty minutes. I want to fold some laundry by then and then rest for a while before the first student rings the bell.
Catch you later.
Hope all is well in your myLot corner. Have a good week
. It's gloomy and cloudy here with no signs of the sun or rain either. The temperature has dropped a bit today, but it's pleasant and tolerable. A light shawl and socks in my feet are good enough to keep me comfortable.
It's the second week of the new year. Time really flies. Monday has started well and things went smoothly at work. I came back from work at 12:30. I finished cooking lunch for myself. My husband has a client meeting and lunch outside. My daughter packed breakfast for lunch. It was her favourite paneer paratha ( stuffing of spicy paneer). I took a light breakfast of toast and banana before going to work. My daughters are not big fan of khichdi ( a very common Indian dish), but husband and I find that as our soul food. So, today I had khichdi for lunch. It's a one pot meal with rice, lentils and veggies cooked together and then seasoned with mustard seeds, cumin seeds and green chillies in hot ghee ( clarified butter). It is easy and quick to cook. And I love it more in this season with so many seasonal veggies available to add flavour and colour to the dish . I added green peas, carrot, beans, onion, tomato and cauliflower today to khichdi .I had it with curd and mango pickle as side dish. And to add more taste to it, I fried these crunchy papad that you see in the picture. These are sago papad( made from tapioca seeds). My mom made them at home. I fried few of them to enjoy as a crunchy side dish.
I shared my lunch with my household help. She too enjoyed it.
I have extra left to be enough for husband and myself in the dinner. My daughter won't mind another meal of paneer paratha. She is crazy about that . I will make omelette for her if she wants.
So, I am done cooking for the rest of the day.. I worked on another site and completed a survey after lunch.
Now, it would be time for my remedial sessions in forty minutes. I want to fold some laundry by then and then rest for a while before the first student rings the bell.
Catch you later.
Hope all is well in your myLot corner. Have a good week12 people like this
13 responses
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
8 Jan
It's indeed tasty and very healthy. I am looking forward to having the leftovers for dinner .
Well, you must have done a lot of cooking when guests were there. Now, you need to relax a bit. Leftovers make easy meals.
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Well, you must have done a lot of cooking when guests were there. Now, you need to relax a bit. Leftovers make easy meals.4 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45576)
• India
14 Jan
@arunima25
At times when we have a lot of things to do, plus going outside a lot, leftovers help.
Here we celebrated Lohri, Makar Sankranti and well, today is my younger daughter's birthday.
So eating out plus sweets and snacks abound.
Apart from that we have been braving chilly conditions.
Fir the first 7 to 8 days of January, there was so less sunshine.
A few days of Max of 13 C temperature.
Hot air blower was on for so much time.
Now the max is around 18 to 19 and sunshine is back but the night time temperature to 3 to 4 C.
The School leaves are further extended.
The dense fog reminds me of the kind of fog we had many years back.
But well, that is the "Winter" time !!
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45576)
• India
10 Jan
Paneer Parantha is sometimes our Staple - give to kids for lunch food.
I like Khichdi sometimes but more of the solidified kind than liquid dominant.
Sago Papad with Khichdi are quite good.
At a max of around 13 to 15 C and min around 6 to 7, we are shivering!!
The blower is on a lot of time!
But well, we do have such a phase during the winters.
Today was still slightly better during the afternoon with some good sunshine.
I haven't done a survey in a long time.
I have started a new short online course plus a few more things and my hands are so full !!
Even Novel reading is impacted !!
The blower is on a lot of time!
But well, we do have such a phase during the winters.
Today was still slightly better during the afternoon with some good sunshine.
I haven't done a survey in a long time.
I have started a new short online course plus a few more things and my hands are so full !!
Even Novel reading is impacted !!3 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45576)
• India
14 Jan
@arunima25
As of now, I have joined a self paced course.
At work place, both online and offline I am into too many things.
Now, I sometimes even refuse a few things sometimes when I feel that folks pick me for help even if they have been told things before.
Some folks do seem to mind it, but we need to draw boundaries.
While in the initial phase of the course, I am feeling that may be social media and other factors have made me a bit more impatient and I need to increase my focus.
New learnings always!
Have a great week ahead !!
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (45576)
• India
15 Jan
@arunima25
Thank you for your wishes.
Yes after a few days, I could be again in the thick of the course content and a few more things.
How is the weather in Bengaluru right now?
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
14 Jan
Khichdi is very frequently made in my house, in different styles from different states. Husband and I just love it. It is our soul food . I love Bissibele baath ( Karnataka style) a lot. Most Saturdays, we have khichdi for dinner. And khichdi is a must on Makar Sankranti. We will have it tomorrow for lunch. My nephew and niece will join too.
Even I make paneer paratha from time to time, especially as brunch on weekends.
Earlier, the winter temperatures would start getting better after Makara Sankranti. But now with all going around with climate changes and Global warming, nothing goes on predictable lines. Stay warm.
I assume that the course is related to your professional side. It can be hectic to do it. Even I need to do a few short courses this year to just get updated with recent happenings in our professional field. One is starting from last week of January and will go till April. It's online on weekends. But I want to skip it as my younger daughter is writing 12th board and I don't want to add anything else on my plate for now. I might join the next batch that they might have from June
. I love Bissibele baath ( Karnataka style) a lot. Most Saturdays, we have khichdi for dinner. And khichdi is a must on Makar Sankranti. We will have it tomorrow for lunch. My nephew and niece will join too.
Even I make paneer paratha from time to time, especially as brunch on weekends.
Earlier, the winter temperatures would start getting better after Makara Sankranti. But now with all going around with climate changes and Global warming, nothing goes on predictable lines. Stay warm.
I assume that the course is related to your professional side. It can be hectic to do it. Even I need to do a few short courses this year to just get updated with recent happenings in our professional field. One is starting from last week of January and will go till April. It's online on weekends. But I want to skip it as my younger daughter is writing 12th board and I don't want to add anything else on my plate for now. I might join the next batch that they might have from June3 people like this
@allknowing (130184)
• India
8 Jan
I am still finishing Xmas goodies that neighbours gave me
I have never tried making Khichdi. Yours sounds delicious.
3 people like this
@allknowing (130184)
• India
9 Jan
@arunima25 I make sweet pullao. I use basmati rice. Fry onions, raisins and cashew nuts Cook the rice in the coker after it is fried in ghee, add spices and sprinkle with the fried cashew nuts, raisins and onions. Sweet and spicy Mint chutney goes well with it.
4 people like this
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
9 Jan
Yesterday my daughter finished last of the Christmas goodies( rose cookies) that we got at our friend's house in the Christmas party.
Oh! You never made Khichdi. I assume that you make Bissibele bath. There the base is sambhar. In khichdi, it's plain moong daal or a mixture of daals. I love bissibele bath.
4 people like this
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
9 Jan
@allknowing I love sweet pulao. Now, you make me crave for it. I will make it the next time I am alone at lunch. My daughters and husband don't like raisins in rice item. But I absolutely love it.. And a spicy chutney to go with it.
. And a spicy chutney to go with it. 3 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (86846)
• United States
8 Jan
Oh my goodness you have such lovely eats!!
I love tapioca too.
I hope the week is fine for you all there.
I am in a mess here.
It is snowing and very very cold and lots of accidents and police out here.
I am not going anywhere today.
3 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45576)
• India
14 Jan
@RebeccasFarm
So do you get things Online in such heavy snow and curtailed physical movement?
Are snow ploughers always in action on the roads?
2 people like this
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
8 Jan
Even I love tapioca seeds in all the forms that we use it. It makes nice breakfast items, veggies cutlets using them or the famous dessert item of sago kheer in India.
Oh! Sorry to know about the mess created by snow. People need to be more careful when driving in snow. I never did that when I stayed in the US. I wan never confident to drive in the snow. My husband used to drive when needed.
It's better to stay warm indoors. Take care. I hope that the weather gets better there soon.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (157402)
• United States
8 Jan
Thank you for the update. Hope you have a good week. We have a couple of winter storms headed our way.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (157402)
• United States
8 Jan
@arunima25 We plan on hibernating during the bad weather!!!
3 people like this
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
8 Jan
I hope the same. You too have a good week. Take care. Stay indoors and stay warm. I know that you are not a big fan of winter and snow. Hope that the weather gets better there.
. Take care. Stay indoors and stay warm. I know that you are not a big fan of winter and snow. Hope that the weather gets better there.3 people like this
@mildredtabitha (16088)
• Nairobi, Kenya
8 Jan
The food looks attractive on the photo. I've never eaten it. Have a good week too.
What is the name of the survey site you are working on?
3 people like this
@mildredtabitha (16088)
• Nairobi, Kenya
9 Jan
@arunima25 Alright I have never eaten that crunchy salty snack before. I will look for the recipe on YouTube.
I have never eaten that crunchy salty snack before. I will look for the recipe on YouTube.3 people like this
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
9 Jan
@mildredtabitha You will get ready made papads in Indian store. We have a lot of varieties there.. rice papad, sabudana ( tapioca seeds) papad, jeera papad etc. You just need to bring them home and fry it. Making it from scratch is a long and elaborate process and takes few days. The shelf life is for months
3 people like this
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
9 Jan
I hope that you are having a good week too. The one in the picture is a crunchy salty snack( it's deep fried). We can have it as a snack or as a side dish with main meal to add the crunchiness and flavour.
I have three survey sites on my list. The one that I mentioned about is YouGov.
3 people like this
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
14 Jan
Thank you Judy. It was indeed very good. It's one of our favourite. My husband and I enjoy it every time and we make it quite frequently
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
9 Jan
It's actually yummy though it's deep fried. But one can always have them from time to time. They can be taken as crunchy salty snacks. Some people enjoy them with tea. It's a great side dish too to add that crunchiness and flavour to the meal.
2 people like this
@sathviksouvik (18010)
•
7 Mar
your sabudana is a very popular dish. My wife and mother are from nagpur. They love sabudana wada
1 person likes this
@sathviksouvik (18010)
•
8 Mar
@arunima25 my wife and mother will eat sabudana khitchri today in mahashivaratri at night after fasting in the day. Happy mahashivaratri to you
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
11 Mar
@sathviksouvik Thank you. I hope that you and your family had a good festival. I do the same. I eat sabudana khichdi for dinner when I fast. I have one breakfast meal of fruits and then have lime juice and coconut water in the day time.
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
7 Mar
Yes, people from Maharashtra make a lot of sabudana dishes. Their sabudana khichdi as breakfast item is so famous. Tomorrow is Mahashivratri. I would make sabudana kheer for prasadam tomorrow. I am fasting tomorrow and I can eat that as it's not a grain
@sathviksouvik (18010)
•
16 Jan
your green chillies, peas, carrot, beans, onion, tomato and cauliflower is making my mouth water. I also love paneer paratha
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
16 Jan
Yesterday was Makar Sankranti. And khichdi is a must preparation for the day. I made Khichdi again with all these veggies. My nephew and niece were here too. We all enjoyed.
@everwonderwhy (6697)
•
7 Feb
Is the khichdi like a lentil and pea and vegies soup dish? Cooked in beef bones and marrows. I imagine it so delicious!
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
7 Feb
Khichdi is similar to that but basically a pure vegetarian dish. We have mix of lentils cooked with rice/ millets of yout choice. One can add loads of veggies to it. The consistency depends on the choice. Some like it thick while others prefer soupy.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
9 Jan
@sarik1 Happy New year. Good to see you after a long time.
2 people like this
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
9 Jan
Thank you. It was really yummy. And yes, the papad added to the flavour.
2 people like this
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
2 Mar
Khichdi with brinjal fritters... that's an awesome Bengali combo. I just love it. And they also serve a sweet tomato chutney with khichdi. That's my absolute favourite.
My remedial sessions are going good. All the slots are full. I am happy that children are showing great improvement.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85691)
• Bangalore, India
7 Mar
@apsmine9 You make my mouth water. I love that combination.
Thank you for your encouraging words. I am really passionate about my work. I love it.
. I love that combination.
Thank you for your encouraging words. I am really passionate about my work. I love it.1 person likes this
@apsmine9 (310)
•
3 Mar
@arunima25 yes, the cashew date tomato chutney is a delight with papad usually, but I love it with khichdi.
With the kind of passion you have, they will improve.
1 person likes this
